Community Forums

Radarthis · 03-10-2018, 08:20 AM

Hello! We are picking up a new Discovery 44H next week. I’m trying to get some things planned out. One question I had is on the video distribution. Does Fleetwood include any type of HDMI video distribution standard? I’m guessing not, but wanted to see if any current owners knew before I ordered a 4x4 HDMI matrix switch. I want to be able to put any source on any TV individually and also have IR control at each TV.

I can obviously wait until I get it and see the wiring but just curious if anyone knew the video setup. Are the TV’s connected by HDMI from the factory? Is there any type of video switch/splitter there?

Thanks! Chad

MSHappyCampers · 03-10-2018, 09:33 AM

Hi Chad!

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Congrats on the new rig! Don't know anything about Fleetwood. Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

anav8or · 03-10-2018, 10:39 AM

Hi Chad -

I don't have details on the 2018, but I can tell you that our 2017 40G has all HDMI connections to the TVs. On our unit, the bedroom and outside TV are tied together to a single source (in the bedroom), and the mid/front TVs are tied together using the front cabin source. Both the bedroom and front cabin av cabinets have satellite coax run to them (main up front, secondary to the back).

I ended up using a wireless HDMI solution to tie all 4 TV's together fed from the front cabin cabinet.

Radarthis · 03-11-2018, 12:03 PM

Thank you! So are the two HDMI’s in each location already on a splitter? So say you put a DVD player in front do you just plug in one HDMI and it feeds both front/mid TV’s?

Or are there two HDMI cables in the front source to feed the front/mid TV’s and two HDMI cables in the back that feed the rear/outside?

Thanks again.

Chad

anav8or · 03-11-2018, 02:24 PM

There are two HDMI connections in each cabinet - one intended for SAT, the other for a DVD/Blu-ray. Each of the TV's has two HDMI connections already connected to it, one for each of the sources.

I have attached a copy of the entertainment schematic for our coach - it might help make sense of how our coach is wired. The Discovery underwent some significant changes between 2016 and 2017 and it sounds like this particular HDMI wiring scheme was new for 2017. I suspect the 2018's will be very similar.

Since I have everything fed from the front a/v cabinet, I only use the HDMI 1 input on all of the TV's. I put an HDMI switch in that cabinet and use it to switch sources. I have an RF universal remote that controls everything.

Enjoy your new rig - the waiting is the toughest part!

Radarthis · 03-11-2018, 05:52 PM

Thanks for this, very helpful!

Radarthis · 03-11-2018, 06:36 PM

It’s interesting that they show there are 2-CAT5’s going from the entertainment connection to the rear tv. I wonder what those are used for. Perhaps they are sending rear DVD up to the front TV using CAT5 HDMI extenders?

I sent a request to Fleetwood for a similar diagram for my coach. Will be curious to see if it’s similar. Thanks again!

anav8or · 03-11-2018, 06:52 PM

They do indeed use CAT5 to distribute the signal - probably cheaper and easier than running HDMI. Likely more reliable as well. There are two extenders in the back cabinet.

anav8or · 03-11-2018, 06:54 PM

And I forgot to mention - Fleetwood will send you all of the schematics for your coach (electric, plumbing, HVAC, etc). All you need is the VIN.

Radarthis · 03-11-2018, 07:55 PM

Very interesting! This is good to know. Thank you. Chad

Radarthis · 03-22-2018, 08:48 PM

Do you have the in-motion satellite on your coach? If so, where is the power switch located? I don’t think I’ve seen it on mine but may have overlooked it in one of the cabinets.

anav8or · 03-23-2018, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radarthis

Do you have the in-motion satellite on your coach? If so, where is the power switch located? I don’t think I’ve seen it on mine but may have overlooked it in one of the cabinets.

Yes, we do. The power switch on our unit is on the forward wall of the front A/V cabinet (above the passenger seat).

Radarthis · 03-25-2018, 12:06 PM

Ok, thanks to your help I found the sat switch (Was hidden way back behind the DVD player in the ent cab). I also found all of the HDMI cables needed to put my 4x4 matrix switch in. Now I can put any source on any of the 4 tv’s and didn’t have to run any additional wires or use wireless.

Thanks so much for all of the tips/info!

Also - off the wall question since you own a Fleetwood. I had the coach in storage parked (without levelers down) for several days. When I went out to it I noticed the airbags had deflated as the front end was lowered way down. When I started it, they aired up just fine and it rose up. Is it normal to lose pressure over several days? Just making sure I don’t have a problem.

Thanks again! Chad